Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/320652
SNL: You say exposure to the process turns people cynical. Why do you still have faith in government? RP: It wasn't all negative. I met some very decent people who were involved in gov- ernment: Bob Anderson and Mabry Carlton, Gene Matthews, David Mills, especially at the county level — people to respect and admire. And even though I didn't agree with every- thing they did, I liked the way they treated people. They took their civic duty so seri- ously. It's not an easy job, and I know they get pulled by interest groups, but they handled it with such humor and just deflected anything that was going to turn into an argument. I briefly met [former Florida Gov.] Jeb Bush when he was running against Lawton Chiles in 1994. He came to our office, stopped by my desk briefly. He introduced himself and I talked to him for two minutes, and then he went on to talk to the managing editor. Four years later, he was running again. He came in with his team and he remembered my name; he remembered what I did, and I was amazed. That's the consummate politician. He just doesn't forget, and that always impressed me. There are very good people in politics. SNL: On your website, you say "restoring trust" in county government after the procure- ment scandal is a top priority. How would you go about that? RP: For so many years, I had heard rumors that in order to get things done at the county, you had to know someone, you had to play The Sarasota County Commission will have two new members come November, with Joe Barbetta (far left) and Nora Patterson (far right) term-limited. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader May 30, 2014 Page 16